You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Afghanistan
Dutch troops to leave Afghanistan this year: PM
2010-02-22
AMSTERDAM - Dutch Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende says Dutch troops are likely to leave Afghanistan this year. He was speaking Sunday, a day after his government collapsed when a coalition partner insisted the Dutch troops leave in August as planned.
The Dutch troops will have to work overtime to get through their To Do list before they leave, then. Happy hunting, guys!
Balkenende had wanted to accept a NATO appeal for the 1,600 troops to stay on for another year, at least to train Afghan army and police.

Asked about the deployment on Dutch television, Balkenende said his caretaker government is not empowered to take controversial decisions such as agreeing to an extension in Afghanistan.

In a lengthy debate in parliament before the government fell, most of the 150-member house was in favor of pulling out of Afghanistan.
Posted by:Steve White

#9  The articles that I've seen going more deeply into Dutch politics are very concerned that Geert Wilder's party will significantly improve their standing in the coming election. If so, that will affect any decisions taken with regard to the Dutch adventure in Afghanistan, ams well as the government drive toward further accommodation of the Sharia-compliant.
Posted by: trailing wife   2010-02-22 16:41  

#8  From what I've read, the Dutch military there definitely punches above their weight. They'll be missed.
Their government? That's a whole nuther thing...
Posted by: tu3031   2010-02-22 15:59  

#7  Here's some of that else. Then check the playlist on the right for more vids of the Dutch fighting.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-02-22 15:43  

#6  when did they arrive? beside handing out chocolate, did they do anything ese?
Posted by: HammerHead   2010-02-22 15:14  

#5  Will Holland be leaving NATO too?

Well, that would certainly relieve us of any responsibilities if Hugo decided to add Aruba and the Netherlands Antilles to his domains.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2010-02-22 09:45  

#4  The photo at the link depicts one group of Americans who would have liked to have come home as well.

Link
Posted by: Besoeker   2010-02-22 09:32  

#3  Will Holland be leaving NATO too?
Posted by: Bright Pebbles   2010-02-22 07:21  

#2  ION NEWS KERALA > THOUSANDS OF ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WIN "SQUATTER'S RIGHTS" IN BRITAIN, thanx to new 2003 changes in law allowing "indefinite stay of residence". Some illegals have lived in UK as long as 14 years, and had never at any time even intentionally tried to get "legal".
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-02-22 00:29  

#1  Compare AMSTERDAM wid ONLINE NEWS.PK > MUSHARAFF: US MADE A BIG MISTAKE IN LEAVING PAKISTAN AND AFGHANISTAN ALONE AT END OF COLD WAR. US strategic-local pullout after 1989 left PAK vulnerable to various instability + Militancies.

* CHINESE MIL FORUM > WHY ISLAMIC EEXTREMISTS HATE INDIA?. Among other, the Militants hate the non/anti-violent, moder influence and effects of Hindu India's democracy on local, regional Muslims, allegedly turning the latter away from TRUE ISLAM = TRUE SHARIA-ISLAMIC RULE???
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2010-02-22 00:25  

00:00